The Big Event

The Big Event is a day of service with a simple message to the community - THANK YOU.

It originated at Texas A&M in 1982 and the Big Event has since spread to campuses across the country. It is now one of the largest student-led service projects in the nation. The purpose of the Big Event is to give back to the community, to thank local residents for their support throughout the year.

Hampden-Sydney's Big Event began in 2011 and has grown from 110 volunteers that year to nearly 200 students, faculty, and staff in 2014. Service projects for the Big Event include helping neighbors with yard work and other home projects, as well as helping local community service organizations.

For more information, please email Sandy Cooke, the Driector of Student Affairs Operations and Civic Engagement, at scooke@hsc.edu.

If you are curious about the types of projects, here's a sample from a previous year:

At FACES food pantry, food was distributed to several hundred families.

At the SPCA, the outdoor kennels had fresh gravel spread.

New plants were put in at the YMCA.

College Church had mulch spread and the grounds cleaned up.

At White Bird Appaloosa Horse Rescue, a horse paddock was finished and horse trailers were sanded and

In Farmville, several shopping center areas, town parks, and children's play areas were cleaned.

Streetlights were cleaned at the Woodlands retirement community.

Roadways in Prince Edward were cleaned.

At Habitat sites, a deconstruction project was done, as well as some brush clearing.

Several local residents had planting done, a deck stained, a gravel driveway spread, and other tasks they needed help with.

Funds were raised for a service dog for Colin Werth, and many happy dogs got a nice walk.